About the South Carolina State Plan

The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Plan (SCOSH) has the distinction of being one of the first programs approved by the United States Department of Labor in accordance with the guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This was accomplished on November 30, 1972.

The State program is administered by a Director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation is divided into divisions for Labor, Fire and Life Safety, and Professional and Occupational Licensing.

The SCOSH plan has been considered fully operational since 1974. This status was recognized in 1975, when the Commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Labor and the OSHA Regional Administrator in Atlanta, Georgia, signed an "Operational Status Agreement". This suspended the concurrent jurisdiction exercised by Federal officials in all areas covered by the state Plan. This was closely followed by "Certification" in 1976, when South Carolina completed all developmental steps as outlined in its Plan and as required by the United States Department of Labor.

On December 15, 1987, the South Carolina program received 18(e) determination (final approval). Final approval of the South Carolina State Plan represented a judgment, after extensive evaluation, that the South Carolina Department of Labor was administering its State Plan in an effective manner, and resulted in formal relinquishment of concurrent Federal authority to enforce occupational safety and health standards in areas covered by the State.

Jurisdiction

The South Carolina OSH Program exercises jurisdiction over all private and public sector employers and employees within the State except private sector maritime activities; employment on military bases; and private sector employment at Area D of the Savannah River Site (power generation and transmission facilities operated by South Carolina Electric and Gas) and at the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority; Federal government employers and employees; and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), including USPS employees, and contract employees and contractor-operated facilities engaged in USPS mail operations. See 29 CFR 1952.95.

Regulations and Standards

States must set job safety and health standards that are "at least as effective as" comparable federal standards. (Most States adopt standards identical to federal ones.) States have the option to promulgate standards covering hazards not addressed by federal standards.

South Carolina has adopted the Federal OSHA Standards verbatim, with a few exceptions. These standards including the following:

General Industry

Construction Industry

Please see Detailed Differences between S.C. and Federal Standards.

Enforcement Programs

The state occupational safety and health act requires employers to provide their employees with a safe and healthy worksite which is free of hazards which may cause injuries and illnesses to workers.

The SC OSHA office conducts inspections of businesses to assure compliance with the law with a staff of 17 safety inspectors and 12 industrial hygienists.

Voluntary and Cooperative Programs

Policies and Procedures

Program Directives are technical interpretations of standards and may be used as a guide. For more information, please contact Gwen Thomas.

Informal Conferences and Appeals

The South Carolina Occupational Health and Safety Review Board hears and makes decisions on appeals regarding citations, penalties, and abatement dates arising from the enforcement of occupational safety and health standards and regulations.

The Board consists of six members who are elected from each congressional district of the state by resident members of the General Assembly from that district. The terms of the members of the Board are four years. Members are empowered to hear and determine all protested cases and approve all settlements arising as a result of any citation, penalty, or abatement date issued by the Director of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The Board may adopt any regulations necessary to establish a procedure for administrative review of a citation, penalty, or abatement date issued by the Director.

The Occupational Health and Safety Review Board maintains an office in Columbia where papers must be filed. This address is:

The Administrative Law Clerk
South Carolina Occupational Health & Safety Review Board
Post Office Box 11824
Columbia, S.C. 29211

South Carolina Occupational Health and Safety Review Board

Other Resources

Employers in South Carolina are required to post two employment notices from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in a place or places where employees can see them. These posters are: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health) and the Labor Law Abstract (Payment of Wages, Child Labor, and Right-to-Work).

Three other state agencies also require employment postings: the Employment Security Commission's "Workers Pay No Part of the Cost for Job Insurance" (UCI 104) and "If You Become Unemployed (UCI 105); the Workers' Compensation Commission's "Workers Comp Works For You"; and the Human Affairs Commission's "Equal Opportunity is the Law".

Due to budget constraints, LLR is no longer printing these posters. They can be downloaded from this site.

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation

Division of Occupational Safety and Health
P.O. Box 11329
Columbia, South Carolina 29211-1329
PH: (803) 896-7665
FAX: (803) 896-7670
For detailed contact information visit SCOSH web site.